Apple announced their iPad this week and it was pretty close to what sane Apple watchers were predicting for years; a perfected Newton with a purpose beyond simple PIM/PDA functions.
iPad is going to be the perfect content delivery vehicle for casual computer users. This is the perfect grandma computer, something she can’t break and is easy/intuitive to use. The reality is that this is exactly the kind of computing device most people need 90% of the time – the other 10% is when folks need to manage photos and videos.
Power users are an extremely small minority in the PC world – this isn’t meant for us unless we need a lightweight companion to our more powerful primary computers. In my case it looks like Dell has me covered.
Usage scenarios:
- Lightweight reader with good stamina.
- Media device when stereo/TV are not available.
- Connect your camera to the desktop/notebook but veiw your pictures on the iPad.
- Portable work tool that weighs next to nothing.
- Casual gaming.
- PIM/PDA.
For the same price as any one of a netbook (heavier, lower resolution, lower quality LCD, no productivity software out of the box), ebook reader (single purpose, less intuitive, less established digital content distribution) and high-end digital picture frame (do they even make IPS picture frames?) the iPad does a lot more.
My hunch is that many of us PC geeks will be buying these for loved ones in the coming year. But we own’t really use one ourselves… except maybe just to make sure everything is working right…
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